Unfurling the national flag at Fort St. George here on Independence Day, Jayalalithaa said: "This day we salute those who fought for the country's freedom. Freedom does not mean just the right to speak, write... True freedom rests in economic freedom."

Listing out various measures implemented by her government in education and health, Jayalalithaa also announced an increase in pension payments to freedom fighters and to their families. Jayalalithaa said her government was taking steps for the welfare of farmers and Tamil Nadu had registered a record food grain production of around 130,000 tonnes.